Hand-washer.



E. W. SALKELD.

HAND WASHER.

APPLICATION FILED 050.1. 1914.

l 1, Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

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E. W. SALKELD.

HAND WASHER.

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p EUG-ENE WATSON SALKELD, 0F "WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 0F COLUMBIA.

HAND-WASHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr., 13, 1915..'

Application filed December 1, 1914. Serial No. 875,031.

T0 all whom t may concern Be it known that I, EUGENE WATSON SALKELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hand-VVashers, of

y which the following is a specification.

r1`his invention relates to a hand washer or scrubbing device designed for use in washing or scrubbing textile fabrics and other articles and surfaces, the object of the invention being to provide a device which is simple of construction, inexpensive of production, adapted to be conveniently manipulated, and efficient in its scrubbing action.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hand washer which is adapted for use without tearing or unduly wearing the fabric or surface, and which provides for the ready supply of soap and water to the surface to be cleansed.

rlf'he invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which: v

Figure l is a bottom plan view of one form of hand washer embodying my inven tion; Fig. 2 is a vertical front to rear section through the same on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the device, the intermediate portion being broken away; Fig. d is a front elevation of the device; Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of a modified form of hand washer; and Figs. 6 and 7 are, respectively, a vertical front to rear section and a vertical longitudinal section thereof taken on the lines 6--6 and 7-7 of Fig. 5.

Referring particularly to Figs. l to l, inclusive, of the drawings, the device comprises a preferably oblong rectangular body 1, consisting of end .walls 2, a front wall 3, a back or rear wall 4 and a bottom wall 5. This body forms a casing of convenient size to receive a cake or bar of soap and is open at the top to permit of the application and removal of the soap. The upper edges of the walls of the body are turned or coiled outwardly to form beads or flanges 6, serving as guards to prevent injury to the hands of the operator or to fabrics or surfaces with which the device may come in contact, and the beads of the front and rear walls also serve as guide and retaining flanges to receive the hooked longitudinal edges 7 of a cover 8 which is adapted to be applied to close the opening in the top of the body and confine the soap against displacement. One end of this cover is formed with a stop fiange 9 for engagement with the bead of the adjacent end wall to limit the motion of the cover when being applied. The longitudinal edges of the cover project at the front and rear of the holder to provide gripping flanges, allowing the device to be held firmly and securely in the hand for manipulation. y

The confined body of soap inclosed within the body rests upon the bottom wall 5, and the front wall 3 of the body is inclined or sloped upwardly and rearwardly and provided with an elongated slot or opening 10 for the inflow of the suds water, whereby in the use of the device the water flowing up the inclined plane will enter the body and come in contact with the soap, the resulting suds or soapy water discharging through perforations 11 in the bottom wall in direct contact with the fabric which is being scrubbed.

As shown, the bottom wall or rubbing surface 5 of the device, in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 11, inclusive, is provided with a corrugated rubbing surface, forming ribs or depressed portions 12 and valleys or grooved portions 13. The ribs 12 are themselves each corrugated to provide diagonally extending ii-shaped rubbing 'surfaces and grooves 16, which latter extend-between and intersect the major grooves orvalleys 13 and through which the perforations 11 open, by which construction the suds water is adapted to flow from the casing and garment both longitudinally and transversely of the rubbing surface, allowing the water to thoroughly penetrate the fabric and to pass freely across the rubbing surface. In use, the device is reciprocated back and forth over the fabric and the diagonally disposed minor ribs, of which each major rib is formed, not only express the dirt and water from the fabric to permit the same to move freely through the longitudinal and diagonal grooves, and the water from the perforations 11 to pass through the grooves and fabric, so that all portions of the fabric will be penetrated by the water and the dirt washed out. By forming each major rib of a plurality of smaller diagonal ribs, it is evident that a vigorous rubbing action may be performed Without that amount of Wear and tear upon the fabric which would be caused in the use of comparatively large ribs arranged at right angles to the path of movement of the Washer and presenting their full surfaces to the fabric, Whilek the diagonal arrangement of the minor ribs also insures the free expression and release of the Water and dirt.

In the modified form of my invention shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the construction is substantially the same as that before set forth so far asl the body is concerned, but the lower portions of the respective vvalls of the body are iared andare arranged to form a circular base portion 17 and bottom Wall 18, the latter being formed with radial ribs 19 and valleys orY grooves 20 and Water discharge perforations 21 extending through and Communicating with the portions 20. The major ribs 19 in this construction are formed to provide diagonally extending minor ribs 22 and grooves 23 and are radially arranged and intersect each other at the center of the bottom 18. By this peculiar form and construction of the rubbing surface 18, it will be understood I that the device may not only be reciprocated back and forth but also reciprocated laterally for a rubbing action, and that it may also bey oscillated laterally or given a. rotary back and forth rubbing motion, thus enabling various kinds of fabrics or surfaces to be more eiiciently cleansed than is possiblewith scrubbers which can be reciprocated only in one` direction over the fabric. Moreover, thel circular rubbing surface with radial rubbing corrugations or ribs enables the rotary motion to be carried out Without excess vvearor strain upon the fabric.

It will, of course, be understood that the device maybe made in different sizes for use as a small hand scrubber or large hand scrubber, which may be manipulated by only one hand or both hands at will, and that various changes Within the scope of the invention may be made Without departing from the spirit thereof.

The advantages of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing description.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A hand Washer comprising a body of oblong rectangular form and having a bottom rubbing surface of corresponding form, said surface being of convex contour from front to rear and provided with longitudinally-extending corrugations formed in the upstanding portions thereof with perforations, the said body being opened at its top and having an upwardly and rearwardly sloping front Wall, said front Wall being provided with a longitudinally-extending water inlet slot, and a closure for the open top of said body.

2. A hand Washer comprising a body of oblong rectangular form and having a sloping front Wall provided with a Water inlet slot, said body being open at the top and formed with longitudinal guide iianges, and having a corrugated rubbing surface provided With perforations communicating with the soap compartment, and a sliding cover for the open top of said compartment adapted to engage said guide ianges and when applied to form front and rear projecting surfaces in conjunction With said flanges by which the device may be gripped.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

EUGENE VATSON SALKELD.

lVitnesses:

FR. DANIEL DA CREUZ, ANTHONY BRUEJA.

Copies of this patentV may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C'. 

